IS executes 18 Syrian soldiers in Palmyra:
The Islamic State (IS) militant group executed 18 Syrian soldiers in the country's ancient city of Palmyra, reported a monitor group Monday.
Bombs hit hospital in Syria, seven killed: Doctors Without Borders:
"This makeshift hospital was providing a lifeline of care to around 40,000 people in Al Zafarana town and the surroundings," de le Vingne said. "It is already a tragedy that seven people -- including a small girl -- have been killed, but if the hospital has to close down or reduce activities, that is a double tragedy
Syria Deal for Rebels to Leave Last Homs District: Governor:
"All the rebels will leave Waer (district) within two months. A group of 200 to 300 armed men will leave in the first step, which will begin on Saturday," Talal Barazi said. He said the first stage of the deal would last a week and would see "some heavy and medium weapons turned over to authorities."
UN condemns strike that cut water supplies to Syria's Aleppo:
An airstrike on a water treatment plant in Syria last Thursday cut water supplies for 3.5 million people, and although pumping has been partly restored, 1.4 million still have reduced supply, the head of U.N. agency UNICEF in Syria said Tuesday.
German govt agrees to join military anti-ISIS campaign in Syria:
Germany will deploy Tornado reconnaissance jets, refueling aircraft, a frigate and up to 1,200 military personnel to the region. The lower house of the German parliament, the Bundestag, will hold a vote on the plans Wednesday.
Berlin won't share IS intelligence data with Russia but will coordinate flights - minister;
"The photos and data that we obtain remain exclusively in our coalition, they will not be provided to Russia," she said. "We will only discuss with each other who flies and where to avoid midair collisions," the defense minister added.
US 'prepared to expand' special operations forces in Syria:
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said today that he was "prepared to expand" the role of special operations troops fighting Islamic State jihadists in Syria.
Pentagon may send more U.S. troops to Syria:
The Pentagon will consider deploying more special operations troops to fight Islamic State militants if its pilot project in Syria shows signs of progress, a senior Defense official told USA TODAY on Monday.
Graham And McCain Call For 10,000 American Ground Troops To Fight ISIS:
Our corporate media continues to help Republicans beat the drums for more war. The producers of CBS's Face the Nation knew exactly what they were getting when they booked BFFs John McCain and Lindsey Graham to weigh in on what the United States should be doing about ISIS. Surprise, surprise! They want U.S. ground troops.
UK cabinet approves Syria motion:
The UK cabinet has approved a motion to pave the way for the country to extend its airstrikes against ISIL militants from Iraq to Syria. The motion is set to be voted on Wednesday.
'You'll be next' ISIS warn UK of terror attacks if they join France in Syria airstrikes:
ISLAMIC State (ISIS) have threatened to carry out terror attacks on Britain if the Commons vote tomorrow to join France in launching airstrikes in Syria against the terrorist organisation.
Russia arms Su-34s with air-to-air missiles in Syria for 1st time:
"Today, Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers have made their first sortie equipped not only with high explosive aviation bombs and hollow charge bombs, but also with short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles," Klimov said. "The planes are equipped with missiles for defensive purposes," he added
Pentagon warns Russia's against arming its warplanes in Syria with air-to-air missiles:
"Such systems will further complicate an already difficult situation in the skies over Syria and do nothing to further the fight against ISIL as they have no air force," she said. "·We expect that if Russia follows through, they will abide by our Memorandum of Understanding regarding flight safety and not direct this system against Coalition aircraft."
Riyadh invites 65 Syrian opposition figures ahead of peace talks -paper:
Saudi Arabia has issued invitations to 65 Syrian opposition figures to attend a conference in Riyadh to try to unify their positions ahead of proposed Syrian peace talks, Saudi newspapers reported on Tuesday.
Seven Kurdish militants killed in clashes with Turkish forces: governor:
Fighting erupted in the town of Derik in Mardin province, north of the Syrian border, after security forces launched an operation against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members, according to a statement on the governor's website.
Explosion rattles Istanbul metro station:
A number of casualties reported, but cause of blast remains unknown, according to Turkish media.
Putin: Russia Has Evidence Su-24 Shot Down to Protect Daesh Oil Deliveries;
"We have every reason to believe that the decision to shoot down our aircraft was dictated by the desire to ensure the safety of supply routes of oil to Turkey, to the ports where they are shipped in tankers," Putin said.
Are These The Tankers Bilal Erdogan Uses To Transport ISIS Oil?:
"All of the oil was delivered to a company that belongs to the son of Recep [Tayyip] Erdogan. This is why Turkey became anxious when Russia began delivering airstrikes against the IS infrastructure and destroyed more than 500 trucks with oil already. This really got on Erdogan and his company's nerves.
UN Says 888 Killed In Violence In Iraq In November:
In a statement on December 1, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq said that 489 of those killed in November were civilians, including police. The other 399 were members of Iraqi security forces, including the Kurdish Peshmerga, and militias fighting alongside the Iraqi army.
5 killed as suicide Bomber Blows Up In Baghdad:
Five pilgrims have been killed and 17 wounded in a suicide attack in Shaab neighborhood northeast of Baghdad.
Iraq forces launch new offensive to retake Ramadi:
Iraqi sources said on Tuesday that army units backed by the volunteer fighters in the first phase of the operation aim to retake the Tamim neighborhood, one kilometer from the center of Ramadi.
Civilians told to leave 'IS'-held Iraqi city of Ramadi:
A military statement has ordered civilians to leave the "Islamic State"-held city, without giving further details. Some analysts believe a major US-led operation to retake the city is imminent.
Elite US troops to fight ISIS in Iraq:
The United States is deploying "specialized" troops in Iraq to fight the Islamic State group (ISIS), including by leading raids against the jihadists over the border in Syria, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday.
US Special Forces Fight IS Group for Months, Kurdish Forces Say:
The United States special forces currently stationed in Iraq are engaged in fighting against the Islamic State group, several Kurdish Iraqi fighters have told the British newspaper The Guardian, contradicting President Barack Obama's assertion that no U.S. personnel were in direct combat with the extremist group.
Former head of US special forces admits:
Islamic State would not exist if Bush didn't invade Iraq: Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn told the German newspaper Der Spiegel that Americans allowed their anger of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to lead them into disastrous military policies that failed to address the root causes of terrorism - and actually helped create new and more brutal terrorists.
Blair and Bush went to war in Iraq despite South Africa's WMD assurances, book states:
Tony Blair went to war in Iraq despite a report by South African experts with unique knowledge of the country that showed it did not possess weapons of mass destruction, according to a book published on Sunday.
Dozens of Houthis killed in major offensive across border from Yemen - residents:
Dozens of Yemeni Houthi fighters were killed during an assault on the border with Saudi Arabia, residents and Saudi state television said on Tuesday, in what they described as a major push to try to capture territory inside the kingdom.
8 Saudis killed on border with Yemen in one week:
Shelling from Yemen has killed another Saudi border guard, the interior ministry said, the eighth death from Yemeni firing into the kingdom in just three days.
Al Qaeda threatens Saudi Arabia over plan to execute prisoners:
Al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen threatened the Saudi government over its plan to carry out a mass execution of prisoners, including al Qaeda members, the militant group announced in a statement posted on social media.
Inside Saudi Arabia's Campaign to Charm American Policymakers and Journalists:
Soon after launching a brutal air and ground assault in Yemen, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia began devoting significant resources to a sophisticated public relations blitz in Washington, D.C.
Two Jordan police killed in shooting near Syria border:
Two Jordanian policemen have died after assailants opened fire on their vehicle while it was on patrol overnight near the Syrian border, authorities said Tuesday.
Nusra frees Lebanon captives in long-awaited swap deal:
Sixteen Lebanese servicemen captured by Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front militants on the northeast border more than a year ago were freed Tuesday in exchange for Islamist prisoners including the ex-wife of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Palestinian teen shot dead after alleged attack near Tulkarem:
An Israeli military officer shot and killed a 19-year-old Palestinian woman at a checkpoint east of Tulkarem on Tuesday, saying that she had attempted to stab him, Israel's army said.
Boko Haram militants kill four, wound two in Niger attack:
Militants from the Islamist group Boko Haram killed eight people in an attack on a village in the southeast of Niger, a private local radio station, ANFANI, said on Tuesday.
107 soldiers missing as Boko Haram destroys troops' Ularamu base: Report:
ABC News reports Monday evening that Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base in Ularamu, and destroyed the compound. The newspaper said after soldiers, yet to be accounted for, disappeared, residents picked up arms and stopped Boko Haram from overrunning their town.
At least 34 Burundi police killed in months violence: government:
Burundi's government blames a string of attacks on "armed criminals", but the UN has warned that Burundi risks sliding back into civil war after a dramatic rise in violence.
Four killed as migrant truck attacked in Mali: sources:
Four men on motorbikes opened fire on the lorry as it travelled towards Kidal, in the country's far northeast.
Nigeria's ex-security chief 'arrested over $2bn arms fraud':
NIGERIA'S FORMER national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has been arrested for allegedly stealing $2bn (£1.3bn) which was meant to pay for equipment to fight terrorists Boko Haram, his representatives say.
Three Children Killed In Blast In Afghanistan:
Afghan police say three children have been killed and 12 wounded in an explosion in the country's north. A police spokesman said the blast took place on December 1 on the outskirts of Puli Khumri, the capital of Baghlan Province.
Afghanistan's capital faces imminent attack, US embassy warns:
A statement on the embassy's website on Monday urged US citizens to exercise "extreme caution" if moving around in Kabul during the next 48 hours. The statement said the embassy had no further information about the targets, timing or nature of the planned attack.
Media report shelling of Donetsk outskirts:
The source said the fire emanated from the Ukrainian Armed Forces positions in the village of Peski, with Ukrainian armed units using 82-mm mortars
Russia may freeze Turkish Stream gas project - Gazprom sources:
The Kremlin has imposed trade sanctions on Turkey over the jet incident last week but so far the measures have not affected the Russian energy exports to Turkey that are the core of their economic relationship.
Europe bribes Turkey:
The summit committed the EU to an "initial" sum of €3 billion, to support Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey. However, it is not clear what support Turkey will provide to the refugees thanks to this money, or whether it will finally open its job market and provide schools and education to hundreds of thousands of Syrian children.
BRICS bank to begin borrowing in yuan:
On Monday, the Chinese yuan was included in the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR) joining the US dollar, euro, British pound and the Japanese yen.
Climate action plans of world's 48 poorest nations to cost $1 trillion:
The world's 48 poorest countries will need to find around $1 trillion between 2020 and 2030 to achieve their plans to tackle climate change - and those plans should be a priority for international funding, researchers said.
Scope of Secretive FBI National Security Letters Revealed by First Lifted Gag Order:
"The notion that the government can collect cellphone location information - to turn your cellphone into a tracking device, just by signing a letter - is extremely troubling," Merrill said.
U.S. government reveals breadth of requests for Internet records:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has used a secretive authority to compel Internet and telecommunications firms to hand over customer data including an individual's complete web browsing history and records of all online purchases, a court filing released Monday shows.
